Step into My Shoes
by Alkisti Halikia; illus. by Fotini Tikkou; trans. from Greek by Konstantine Matsoukas
Primary    Lantana    32 pp.
10/24    9781915244925    $18.99

This picture book invites readers to practice compassion by trying on others’ shoes—both literally and figuratively. On her walk home from school in her Paris suburb, Matou passes a mosque and sees “a sea of shoes” in front of the building (it is customary to take off your shoes before entering the prayer area of a mosque). A pair of pristine white sneakers stands out, and Matou can’t help herself—she tries them on. She continues trying on shoes, and when their owners claim their footwear, Matou notices that each pair reveals something about the person who wears it. The pristine sneakers’ wearer forgoes walking home for a ride in a shiny car, suggesting wealth. A girl with worn, stretched-out ballet flats rubs her shoes together while waiting for her parents—she’s unhappy. Matou is miffed when her mother cancels a shopping date because she has to work late, but when she tries on Mom’s shoes, she is able to see her perspective. The illustrations mix sepia-toned backgrounds with pops of color. Hand-drawn scenes in colored pencil are combined with photos, adding texture and variety to the illustrations. This endearing story about understanding others is an excellent read-aloud that is likely to spark activities, conversations, and possibly some exchanges of footwear.

From the ">January/February 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.